Portable lavatory cabinet with step drawer



Jan. 17, 1956 D. HOFF PORTABLE LAVATORY CABINET WITH STEP DRAWER Filed July 17, 1955 #(59 2, INVENToR. BY czv/ jrg/7 d/ZMWAMQE@ 4f/ys United States Patent O r2,731,318 PORTABLE LAVATORY (ABINET WITH STEP DRAW David HolfyDetroit, Mich. Application `l'uly 17, 1953, SerialkNo. 368,732 2 Claims. (Cl. 3121-210) beneath the washbowl after the latter has been installed,

as well as being removable without disturbingthe washbowl, in the event of cleaning, moving or repairs to the plumbing.

Another object is to provide a lavatory cabinet of the foregoing character having additional cupboards or drawers for holding articles frequently used in a bathroom as well as for` converting `into useful `storage space the otherwiseV unused space beneath the washbowl.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a front elevation of a lavatory cabinet equipped with a step drawer according to one form of the invention, with the washbowl shown indotted lines;

Figure 2 is a left-hand side elevatiompartly in vertical section, of the cabinet shown in Figure 1, with the washbowl `shown in dotted lines;

Figure 3 is a top plan View of the cabinet shown in Figures 1 and 2; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the cabinet of Figures l, 2 and 3, with the cupboard open and two of the drawers extended.

Hitherto, it has been diflicult for small children to reach a washbowl in a bathroom of a home, school, church or the like. In schools, churches and other public buildings, the problem has been solved by providing one or more additional washbowls located at a sufficiently low level for the child to reach. This solution, however, is unsatisfactory because a washbowl sufhciently low for a small child to reach is too low for a tall child or adult, thus requiring duplication in the plumbing fixtures and adding to the expense of such installation. Another solution has been to provide a step stool which assists small children in reaching the washbowl, but such stools are unsatisfactory by being liable to slip and cause accidents, as well as being in the way. Moreover, the space beneath a washbowl is usually occupied only by plumbing, hence is completely wasted as far as storage space is concerned.

The present invention provides a lavatory cabinet which not only usefully employs the space beneath the washbowl for storage purposes but also at the bottomthereof provides a step drawer with a lid upon which a small child can stand in order to reach the washbowl, but which, when closed, is completely out of the way. The cabinet of the present invention is also capable of being separately sold and installed, having provision for being slid inward or outward beneath the washbowl witbice out interfering with the pipes thereof. If the owner of the cabinet moves to another house, he can remove the cabinet and take it with him, and the cabinet can also be withdrawn for cleaning purposes or for repairs or cleaning of the plumbing.

Referring to the drawings in detail, Figures 1 to 4 inelusive show a lavatory cabinet, generally designated 10, adapted to be inserted` beneath a conventional washbowl, generally designated 12 and having a bowl portion 14 surrounded by a flange 16- terminating in a downwardly extending skirt 18 with a lower edge 20. From the rearward edge of the anget16 an apron 22 extends upward and has a peripheral flange 24 engaging the wall W. Faucets 26 of the usual type are mounted on the apron 22. The lowest portion of the washbowl 12 is provided with. an outlet` 28 to which is connected a drain pipe 30 having the usual trap 32 therein of approximately U- shaped construction.

The lavatory cabinet 10 is generally in the form of a chest of drawers or washstand andhas side panels 34 and a front panel 36, but lacks a top panel or back panel, in order to enableit to be slid beneath the washbowl with out colliding with the drain pipe 30 or trap 32. The cabinet 10 intermediate the side panels 34 is provided withV a partition panel 38 parallel thereto and of substantially the same size. Secured to the partition panel 38 and to the side panels 34 and extending between them is a horizontal bottom panel 40 (Figures l and 2). The in: termediate partition 38 is secured at its lower edge to the bottom panel 40 and extends upward tot the front panel 36 to which it is secured adjacent the top thereof. The space to the left of the partition 38 is occupied by a cup. board 42 with a shelf 44 and a door 46, the latter being hinged as at 48 to the left-hand side panel 34. A plumbing compartment Si) for receiving the drain pipe 30, outlet 28 and trap 32 is provided within the cupboard space 38 but spaced laterally away from it. The panel 52 is joined to it by a vertical panel 54 also secured at its lower edge to the shelf 44 and at one of its side edges to the forward edge of the panel 52. The other side edge of the panel 54 is secured to the panel 38 (Figure 3). The plumbing compartment 56 is thus open at the top and rear in order to prevent collision with the drain pipe 30 as the cabinet is inserted beneath the washbowl 12. The space to the right of the partition 38 constitutes a drawer compartment 56 which is divided by horizontal partitions 58 and 60 and by the bottom panel 40 into spaces receiving horizontally slidable drawers 62, 64 and 66 which are slidabie into and out of the enclosures thus provided.

The bottom panel 40 is spaced above the level of the floor F a sulicient distance to accommodate a step drawer 68 to the bottom of which are attached three skids or runners 70 by the aid of which the drawer 68 may be slid outward. The runners 70 are secured to the bottom panel 72 of the drawer 68 and extend beneath the front panel 74 and rear panel 76 thereof. The side panels 78 lie adjacent the cabinet side panels 34 with a suicient clearance for free sliding action. The side panels 34 are provided with right-angled cutaway portions 80 and the width of the drawer between the front and rear panels 74 and 76 is shorter than the corresponding width of the drawers 62, 64 and 66 in order that the bottom panel 40 will overhang the front panel 68 (Figure 2) by a suftcient amount to provide space for the toes of a person standing at the washbowl 12.

Secured to the upper edges of the rear and side panels 76 and 78 of the drawer 68 and extending across the top thereof is a board or bar 81 which forms: a support for hinges 82 secured thereto and to a step board or lid 84 hinged in that manner to the bar 80 and covering the remainder of the top of the drawer 68 at its forward por 3 l tion. The lid 8'4 rests on the upper edges of the front and side panels 74 and 78 of the drawer 68 and, when the drawer 68 is extended (Figure 4), the lid S4 can be swung upward to insert or remove articles `from the interior of the drawer 68. When in its closed position,

f however, it serves as a step to vassist a small child or short person to reach the washbowlk 12. The drawer front 74 is provided with pull handles 86.

In the operation of the invention, let it be assumed that the front and side panels 3K4 and 36 have been constructed to be at the same height above the Atloor l: as the lower edge 20 of the skirt 1S of the washbowl 12 (Figures 1 and 2). Conversely, if the cabinet is being installed in a home which is in the process of construction, the Washbowl 12 can be secured to the wall W at the height most suitable for receiving the cabinet 10.- ln either case, the cabinet 10 is inserted beneath the washbowl 12 merely by sliding the former horizontally inward from the front, so that the compartment S0 receives the outlet 28, drain pipe 30 and trap 32 (Figures l, 2 and 3).

The step drawer 68 normally occupies the set-back position shown in Figure 2 in order to be out of the way of the toes of users of the washbowl,

ln the event that a small child or short person desires to use the washbowl 12 and is unable to reach it, he merely grasps the handles 86 and pulls the step drawer 68 outward (Figure 4), so that the lid 84 projects outward from beneath the front edge of the bottom panel 40. He then steps up on the lid 84 of the step drawer' 68 and is thus able to use the washbowl 12. has finished with the latter, he then grasps the handles 86 and pushes the step drawer 68 backward into its retractedrposition (Figure 2). The remaining compatments, such as the drawers 62, 64, 66 and the cupboard 40 are used for the storage of articles used yaround the bathroom and the space beneath the lid 84 ot the step drawer 68 may also be used for the same purpose.

While the step drawer 68 has been shown as equipped with three skids or runners 70 which rest directly upon the tloor F, for the sake of the support given to the central portion thereof, it will be understood that, if desired, the drawer 68 may be supported by side rails attached to the side panels 34 near their bottom edges, the step drawer 68 sliding in and out while supported on these side rails. This avoids any danger of scratching or otherwise marring the floor in pulling the step drawer inward or outward.

While for purposes of illustration the front panel 36 has been shown as at (Figure 3), it will be understood When he that it may also be curved if desired, without falling outside the scope of the invention, because the advantages of the invention may also. be obtained with a curved front.

What I'claim is:

1. A step-up lavatory cabinet for insertion beneath a washbowl and its plumbing, said cabinet comprising an enclosing structure having side panels of lesser height than the height of the bottom edge of said washbowl, said structure having a rearwardly-open space therein and an open top and an openback communicating with said space for removably receiving the bottom of the washbowl and its plumbing respectively, `and a step drawer slidably mounted in the lower portion of said structure for travel into and out of said structure, said step drawer having a step lid engaging and receiving support from the upper edge thereof, said step drawer having a lesser width than said side panels whereby to set back the front of said drawer rearwardly from the front of said cabinet and provide toe space beneath the front of said cabinet.'

2; A step-up lavatory cabinet for insertion beneath a washbowl and its plumbing, said cabinet comprising an enclosing structure having side panels of lesser height than the height of the bottom edge of said washbowl, said structure having a rearwardly-open space therein and an open top andy an open back communicating with said space for removably receiving the bottom of the washbowl and its plumbing respectively, and a step drawer slidably mounted in the lower portion of said structure for travel into andout of said structure, said step drawer having a step lid engaging and receiving support from the upper edge thereof, said step drawer having a lesser width than said side panels whereby to set back the front of said drawer rearwardly from the front of said cabinet and provide toe space beneath the front of said cabinet, said side panels having cutaway openings at their lower forward portions extending rearwardly approximately to the front of said step drawer in the closed position thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNTTED STATES PATENTS 

